Gary Neville believes Trent Alexander-Arnold could be one of the world’s best ever right-backs if he can improve his defending.
The Liverpool defender has come under fire this season as he has struggled for form and, in a lot of matches, the Reds have conceded goals from his side of the pitch.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, former right-back Neville praised the 23-year-old for his undoubted attacking qualities.
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He said: “No full-back that I've ever seen in this country can do what he can do.
"So, if he can just work on those basic [defensive] things and get consistency, we won't just have one of the best attacking right-backs this country has ever produced, we will probably have the best right-back the world has ever produced.
"This is a [Brazil legend] Cafu - that level of full-back, this is something unbelievably special."
He then weighed in on the debate that surrounds the young defender, believing that more work needs to be done to work on the defensive side of his game as there was an “imbalance.”
"I think Trent has to work on his defending," said Neville. "I said it a few years ago that there was a lack of seriousness in his defending and there was a lack of alertness. At some point in his career, it will hold him back."
The ex-Manchester United defender’s comments followed words spoken by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp last week who believes that Alexander-Arnold can defend while hailing him an “exceptional” player. He then stated that as a result of his system and style, he has his full-backs press higher up the pitch.
Alexander-Arnold was recently selected for Gareth Southgate’s England squad but he did not make an appearance against either Italy or Germany.
Following the latest international break, Southgate revealed that Alexander-Arnold’s “all-round game” was not at the same level as Newcastle United’s Kieran Trippier.
With just over a month before the World Cup, Alexander-Arnold’s position in the squad is unclear, and unless there is a drastic change in the defensive side of his game over the coming weeks, he may find himself dropped by Southgate.
"This is an important juncture of his career. What does he do, does he think I don't have to do that, I don't want to do that?" Neville added.
"There might be a negative of him not going to the World Cup [but] that might be the biggest positive of his career, if he can have five to six weeks here just literally being coached."
